by DAVID CRUZ

After months of teasing the media and throwing obvious hints of possibly returning to the political arena, former Councilman Oliver Koppell has decided to run against State Sen. Jeff Klein of the 34th Senate District. The district covers a major swath of the Bronx, from Hunts Point to Riverdale. 

Koppell told the Norwood News his decision to run arrived after evaluating political support, gaining assurances from the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee that he will receive funding and ensuring he had enough money to get his message across. Overall, he didn’t want the race to be a “fruitless endeavor.”

But the move is somewhat quixotic for Koppell given overwhelming support for Klein and an enormous campaign war chest that stands at $1.5 million. Koppell’s been in retirement after being forced to give up his Council seat due to term limits, but has kept busy. For the last five months, Koppell has waged a war of words against Klein, via media outlets. Labeling Klein a disingenuous Democrat,  Koppell has gone on the offensive against Klein, a major political player in Albany. As it stands, Klein is the president of the Independent Democratic Conference made up of five State Senate legislators, who share power with Senate Republicans. It’s Klein’s deal with Republicans that’s compelled Koppell to run against Klein.

“The moment Jeff Klein put Republicans in charge of the State Senate, he broke his word and betrayed the voters who elected him. We deserve better,” Oliver Koppell said in a statement. “Because of his actions, meaningful, progressive legislation that would improve the everyday lives of people across New York, has been watered down or blocked entirely.”

Klein has defended his position that he is indeed a “true Democrat,” having helped passed several bills that included tougher gun laws, expanding the universal pre-K program and ushering in more affordable housing options.

Koppell’s chances at winning the seat is remote given universal support for Klein, who recently gained assurances from the Bronx Democratic County caucus that it will back him should Klein face a challenger. Koppell’s move appears to some political analysts as a way to use a platform to call out Klein’s moderate view, which Koppell believes to run counter to democratic values.

It’s unclear, however, whether the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, an influential activist group based in the northwest Bronx, will throw their support to either candidate given the challenger and incumbent’s history with the club. Members are expected to announce whether they will stay neutral or pick a candidate on May 22nd, when they’re expected to meet.

With petitioning beginning on May 29th, Koppell and Klein expect to go head to head in several pending debates happening over the summer. A spokeswoman for Klein said the IDC presidents “looks forward  to a spirited debate of ideas and is eager to address his record of legislative accomplishments and his vision for the people of his district and for the future of this state.”